New Giant Revolt X uses a suspension fork for rowdier riding

Gravel bike features suspension-optimised geometry

This competition is now closed

By Oscar Huckle

Published: February 23, 2023 at 5:00 pm

Giant has announced the Revolt X range, a new line of gravel bikes with a short-travel 40mm suspension fork designed for more aggressive riding.

The Revolt X is an addition to Giant's Revolt gravel bike line-up. The Revolt Advanced Pro 0 won our coveted Bike of the Year award in 2022.

We first spotted the Revolt X when it was leaked on a number of retailer sites in January this year.

The official launch confirms Giant will offer an Advanced Pro carbon fibre Revolt X and an aluminium version of the gravel bike.

The bike features a flip chip at the rear dropout to adjust the geometry to suit your preferences – a feature carried over from the rigid-framed Revolt.

Prices start from £4,499 / $4,800 / €4,600 / AU$6,199 for the Advanced Pro 2 or £2,999 for the aluminium-framed Revolt X 1.

In the UK, carbon models will be available in April and the aluminium Revolt X will be available in May. The aluminium Revolt X 1 will be available only in the UK and Canada.

The Giant Revolt X bikes use gravel bike suspension forks from RockShox and Fox.

The forks provide 40mm of suspension travel and have been specced on other gravel bikes such as the Berria Belador Allroad and the Niner MCR 9 RDO.

The aluminium Revolt X 1 and Revolt X Advanced Pro 2 use RockShox Rudy forks, while the Advanced Pro 1 has a Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.

The range-topping Advanced Pro houses a Fox 32 Float AX Performance Elite.

Giant says the Revolt X's geometry has been optimised for the suspension.

The Revolt X Advanced Pro has a slightly longer reach and less of a bottom-bracket drop than the rigid-framed Revolt. Giant says this is for maximum control.

The changes are relatively minor, however. The Revolt X Advanced Pro's reach has increased by 2mm on a size medium to 389mm. The bottom bracket drop is now 68 or 69mm depending on the flip chip setting, down from 80 or 81mm on the rigid Revolt.

The head tube lengths have also been reduced to account for the extra length of the suspension fork. A size-medium frame has a 115mm head tube length compared to 150mm on the rigid Revolt.

The chainstay lengths and wheelbase are unchanged.

Giant has kept the same geometry numbers across the carbon and aluminium Revolt X bikes, but it has lowered the standover height on the aluminium version by 5mm.

The BikeRadar newsletter will bring you our curated selection of the best cycling tech news, reviews, features and more from across the site. Just enter your email address below to get started.

Thank you for signing up to the BikeRadar newsletter!

You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy.

Giant says the Revolt X frameset is engineered for the perfect balance between comfort and stiffness.

Giant uses its Advanced Composite for the carbon frames. The brand says the front triangle is assembled and moulded as one continuous piece in a proprietary manufacturing process called Modified Monocoque Construction, helping to create a high stiffness-to-weight ratio.

The top tube slopes downward. This makes the front and rear triangles smaller to create a lighter and stiffer bike, according to Giant. The brand also claims the sloped tube makes it easier for riders to find the right fit.

The top and down tubes are oversized. The down tube has a boxy and rectangular profile, which Giant claims promotes superior stiffness and torsional rigidity.

The oversized theme continues to the bottom bracket junction on the carbon Revolt X, which houses a press-fit BB86.

The aluminium Revolt X uses a threaded 68mm bottom bracket standard.

The Revolt X uses Giant's Overdrive headset system with 1 ⅛ in upper and 1 ¼ in lower headset bearings.

There's room for two bottle cages in the main triangle, with the down tube containing three bosses if you want to adjust the position. There are also mounting points under the down tube and on the top of the top tube for a bento box.

The Advanced Pro series is compatible with 1x drivetrains only. However, the aluminium Giant Revolt X can accept a front derailleur, so you can run the bike with a 2x drivetrain.

The frame provides three seatpost options. The bikes ship with a dropper post that provides 75 or 100mm height adjustment, depending on frame size. You can also use Giant's proprietary D-Fuse seatpost if you’re after more compliance, or you can opt for a 30.9mm round post. You’ll need an adaptor if using the latter.

Like its rigid sibling, the Revolt X incorporates a flip chip at the rear dropout.

The flip chip provides two positions. The ‘Short Position’ shortens the wheelbase and chainstay length, which is said to result in a nippier ride. The ‘Long Position’ lengthens the wheelbase for increased stability.

To adjust the flip chip, you unscrew the dropout mounting bolts and flip the hardware into the desired setting.

The Revolt X Advance can fit a gravel bike tyre up to 700x53mm wide in the ‘Long Position’ or 700x42mm in the ‘Short Position’.

Technical writer

Oscar Huckle is a technical writer at BikeRadar. He has been an avid cyclist since his teenage years, initially catching the road cycling bug and riding for a local club. He's since been indoctrinated into gravel riding and more recently has taken to the dark art of mountain biking. His favourite rides are epic road or gravel routes, and he has also caught the bikepacking bug hard after completing the King Alfred's Way and West Kernow Way. Oscar has a BA degree in English Literature and Film Studies and has close to a decade of cycling industry experience, initially working in a variety of roles at Evans Cycles before joining Carbon Bike Repair. He is particularly fond of workshop tool exotica and is a proponent of Campagnolo groupsets. Oscar prefers lightweight road and gravel frames with simple tube shapes, rather than the latest trend for aerodynamics and full integration. He is obsessed with keeping up to date with all the latest tech, is fixated with the smallest details and is known for his unique opinions.

Order the Official Tour De France Race Guide 2023

Only £10.99 including FREE UK delivery

Subscribe to MBUK and get a pair of Crankbrothers Stamp 1 pedals as your welcome reward! Plus, save 25% off the subscription price!